The Big Apple has got some really modern agriculturists. Growing the most premium quality, nutritious and fresh greens on a rooftop, a trio in NYC has struck gold in the farming sector. Their holistic approach in terms of eco friendly measures, high quality products and a local approach have made them another cog in the wheel of eco friendly machinery. Viraj Puri, Eric Haley and Jennifer Nelkin are the New Yorkers who made the world stop and stare.
In 2008, Puri and Haley established ‘Gotham Greens’, a 15,000 square feet greenpoint rooftop to execute their idea of a rooftop greenhouse. Taking in the space of a bowling alley, they referred to the place as ‘Farm in the sky’. Nelkin joined them one year later. Because of her expertise in greenhouse systems, she was appointed as the director of the company.
Puri, who already had a background in green building and clean technology, was able to distribute its produce in just 2 months. The markets included those of, D’Agostino, Fresh Direct, Eataly, Union Market in Brooklyn, and more. Since the distance between their clientele and them was very less, it saved them from the headache of long-distance and long hours of refrigerated food transportation. The deal was quite beneficial for the environment too. Such a close proximity ensured that there was no carbon emission and hence no air pollution.
Talking about the commercial urban greenhouse (which happens to be the nation’s first hydroponic structure), he states:
“Nothing like this exists in an urban environment.”
By providing the right temperature, light levels and humidity, Puri and his team controls the environment of the local rooftop hydroponic farm. Hydroponic is a practice of growing plants in high nutrient solutions than in soil. This helps to grow the food faster and ropes in more hygiene (without toxins) than what a pesticide-treated crop will give. The seeds are planted in a fiber sponge and then after grown in a controlled environment agriculture system or CEA. This type of farm uses 10 times less water and 20 times less land.
Gotham Green now grows Tropicana green leaf, lettuce, baby butterhead or Bibb lettuce, Red Snails red leaf and basil, that too 365 days a year. Coming soon are crops like arugula, bok choy and Swiss chard etc too. Coming years will see the trio sprung into action to spread the business furthermore. They want to take up the production toll to 100 tons. They are also planning to open many such rooftop greenhouses all over the city with the next one being double the size of the current one.
Via: NYDailyNews
